Combination spring movement and washing machine



May 25 1926. 1,586,468

E. J. RAPPS COMBINATION srnme MOVEMENT AND WASHING mcnma F'i l ed N v'.:2,1 l92 5 2 sneetsaheek 1 E. J. RAPPS COMBINATION SPRING MOVEMENT AND WASHING MACHINE May .25, 1926. 1,586,468

Filed Nov. 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1926.

* UNITED STATES PATENTAOFFICE--.

EDWARD J. RAPPS, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION SPRING MOVEMENT Ann wnsnmo MACHINE.

Application filed November 2. 1 923. Serial No. 672,298

This invention relates to washing ma.- I

chines and-has for its object to providea spring power mechanism in which energy,

may be stored and transmittedfto a tank ortub to swing same. I i s In operating the washing machine to give an oscillating movement, I utilize a spring motor which drives a pinion, the latter engaging a, double faced arcuate rack so as to give an oscillating movement. A pair of oppositely positioned springs are operatively connected to the tub of the washing ma chine so that in opposite directions of oscillation the springs are alternately tensioned' and react to swing the tub in the reverse direction. A fly wheel may be em ployed to store up the energy of rotation acting as a governor.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following specification of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 is a plan of themachine.

V Fig. 2 is .a side elevation of the machine.

Fig.3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section showing'the reverse gear. V o

F 1g. 5 is an end showlng the reverse gear in reversing posltlon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the reverse gear.

- Fig. 7 is, a detail of the auxiliary spring mechanism.

r 6 is a shaft 8 on which is secured-a pinion 9, said shaft being mounted in bearings 11. The gear 12, the shaft 8, the pinion 9 and the gear 7 connected to the shaft 3, con-,

stitute a reversingmechanism for oscillating the tub. The gear 7 is an endless semicircular rack which travels first on one side of the pinion 9 and then on the other side.

The present machineconsists of a suitable The gear is held for mesh with the pinion 9; the block 5 limiting the swinging movement of the gear 7.

Fastened on the shaft 8 is gear 12 mesh-i ing with a master gear 13' loosely mounted on a shaft 14. which is in line with the shaft 3. Fastened to the shaft 14 is the inner end'of a spring 15 whoseouter end is fastened at 16 to the wheel 13. On the shaft ,ltis fastened a ratchet wheel 17 turning freelyin one direction past a latch 18 F ig.

3. The shaft 14 is mounted in bearings 19 and fastened on theshaft is a hand wheel 20. Turning the hand if wheel winds the spring 15 and the energy stored in the spring turnsthe gearwheel13 and the gear 3 12 and the pinion 9. This will tilt the tank or tub from the positionshown in Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrow a Figure 5,until the tub is completely inverted.

In the first-quarter revolution of a tub most of the power is required and in the second quarter revolution much less power is required and means are employed to absorb the excess power from the spring '15 so 'as to aid in the reversing movement of the invertedtub 2. f i

Power conserving means are shown as 1ncluding a fly wheel 25 fastened on a shaft 26 inbearings 27. On the shaft is fastened a pinion 28 and this meshes with a larger wheel 29 secured on the shaft 3 carrying the tub 2. Fastened on the shaft'3 is a double groove pulley or a pair of pulleys 30 and attached at opposite sides thereof are the upper ends of opposed springs 31 and 31 which springs are attached to anchors 32.. r i

' Whenit is desired to prepare the machine for operation, the tub 2 is manually rotated from the neutral position shown in Fig. a

(when the main spring 15 is unwound) to a starting of filling position,as shown in Fig. 5. The tubis then hooked to hold the same in starting position until filled with clothes and water, etc, by a hook 33, one end of which is pivoted on the U-bolt 34; fixed to a standard 35, while the hook engages an eye-bolt 36 fixed to the tube 2.

The main spring 15 is then wound up by means of the hand wheel 20 to any desired tension, according to the length of time required to wash the clothes.

In order to start the machine, it is then only necessary to release the hook 83 from the eye-bolt 36.

In operation the spring 15, pulling constantly in one direction, turns the pinion 9 and this drives the gear Tso as to invert the tub 2. As the elfort by the spring 15 moves the tub 2 in a quarterturn the tub resistance is reduced and the excess energy is utilized in tensionin'g he springs 31by winding them over its pulley 30. At the same time the energy of thespring 15 is stored in the fly wheel 25 which acts as a governor {or the speed of operation of the machine. The other spring 31 operates to reverse the fly wheel and to reverse the motion of the tab 2 and thestored energyoi the "spring 31 also aids in initiating the re versal of'the tub.

The'inversion andthereversal of the tub is continuous and automatic so long as en ergy is stored in the spring 15 sufliciently to over-come the load.

It will be noted as'shown in Fig. 1, that the segmental rack gear 7, mounted in the block 5 which is shown in Fig. 1, is formed with'a recess, the sides of which' engagethe arms of the segmental gear and restrict the sidewise oscillation on the transverse pivot- 6. This block and'the vario-us cooperating elements aredesigned so'that the pinion 9 will'remainin mesh "with the teeth on 013- 'posite sides of the segmental gear 7. This gear 7 isshown as forming a semicircle, but

't may be made of less or'of greater are if desired.

In the operation of washing, whenthe tub is in the starting position of Fig. 5, it will require considerable energy from the spring l5 to turn the device tlirou 'hthe first uarter circle into the position of Fig 4. When it is partially turned in-the position of Fi l, the water will flow to the lowest part and the clothes will topple over, thereby giving an impetus which will allow the second quarter turn to be made withoutrequiring so much driving power from the spring 15. The springs 31 are broughtinto action alternately and operate by tension giving a pull on their respective pulleys "to aid the returning ot' the tub and in the position of Fig. 7 both will be givingan equal and counter-balanced tension in opposite directions.

Further embodiments, modifications and variations may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention.

IV hat is claimed is:

1. In a machine, an invertible tub, a spring mechanism to store energy, a reversing mechanism includin 'a pinion and an endless semi-circular rack connected to the appliance and 'op-erativeby the spring mechanism, and a speed controlling means.

2. In a machine, an invertible appliance, a spring mechanism to store energy, a reversing mechanism including a pinion and an endless semi-circular rack connected to the appliance and operative by the spring mechanism, and a speed controlling means, said means including an energy storing instrumentality.

3. In a machine, an invertible appliance, a spring mechanism'to store energy, are versingmechanism including a pinion and an endless semi-circular 'rack connected to the appliance and operative by the spring mechanism, and a speed controlling means, said meansincluding an energy storing instrume'ntality comprisinga fly Wheel.

1. In a machine, an invertible appliance,

aispring mechanism to store energy, a reversing mechanism including-a pinion and an endless semi-circular rack connected to the appliance and operative by the spring mechanism, and a speed controlling means, said means including an energy storing instrumentality comprising springs.

In combination, an invertible wash tub, a shaft supporting the tub, a reversing mechanism including a pinion and an endless semi-circular rackattached to the shaft, a driving spring for the reversing mechanism, a power absorbing and storing means connected to the said shaft for absorbing excess energy or the driving spring after the initial resistance in tilting the tubis overcome.

(3. In combination, an invertible Wash tub, a shaft supporting the tub, a reversing 'mechanism including a pinion and an endless seini-circular rack attached to'the shaft,

a driving spring torthe reversing mechanism, a power absorbing and storing means connected to the said shaft for absorbing excess energy of the driving spring after the initial resistance in tilting the tub is overcome, said means being operative to facilitate in reversing the tub.

In "testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. V

EDIVARD J. RAPIS. 

